The historic Texaco building at 1111 Rusk Street will be transformed into a 16 floor high-rise.

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Skyhouse Main sits next door to the existing Skyhouse Houston.

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One Park Place puts downtown Houston at your beck and call.

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One Park Place brought high-rises back when it opened in 2009.

With nearly 50 new luxury high-rise and mid-rise buildings in various stages of construction, it’s difficult to find a Houston neighborhood that does not have a steely new pinnacle shimmering above it. There are epicenters of this building boom, though, and downtown is clearly one of them.

A number of ambitious new high-end projects are betting on the notion that living in downtown Houston has never been more desirable. From an upstart looking to change what a rooftop pool can be to a massive skyscraper from Houston’s most storied developer, all the new big-money buildings are selling a lifestyle even more than their amenities. That lifestyle centers around the picture of big-city entertainment and yes, a very walkable downtown — in Houston.

Many of these buildings are locked in a virtual arms race, trying to one up themselves with competing perks and amenities. This being Texas, you’ll also have your choice of selecting energy providers — one of the stalwarts, Direct Energy looks to make that decision less confusing with transparency and empowering you with knowledge. Its Direct Your Energy tools allow you to see exactly where your energy use is going. After all, no one heads to the sky for a more complicated and frustrating life.

Let’s look at the downtown high-rises and mid-rises that are changing the city — and compare them. Consider this your sky-high guide.

Project: ARIS MARKET SQUAREAddress: 409 Travis Street.Developer: Hines.Floors & Units: 32 floors, 274 units.Status: Under construction.Square Footage: 575 to 2,250 square feet.Starchitect/Designer: Houston-based Ziegler Cooper; Dallas-based SJL Design Group.Amenities: Movie theater lounge, aqua lounge, dog wash, bicycle repair room.Luxe Factor: This high-rise combines the best of both worlds with a historic brick-and-cast-stone base and a gleaming modern tower of glass and steel.Walkability: Market Square Park is outside the lobby doors, and the restaurants and bars of the re-emerging Main Street corridor are ultra-close.Why We’d Live Here: Having restaurants, a cafe and maybe even a boutique grocery on the ground floor of your building is no small perk. The high-rise’s own planned pocket park and dog-friendly Market Square Park give you green spaces galore.Dollar: For lease; rates to be determined.Move-In Date: Late 2017.

Project: 500 CRAWFORDAddress: See above.Developer: The Finger Companies.Floors & Units: 7 floors, 397 units.Status: Open.Square Footage: 850 to 2,000 square feet.Starchitect/Designer: Atlanta-based Niles Bolton Associates.Amenities: Vegas-style pool private cabanas outfitted with HDTVs, fitness center, library lounge, clubroom party center.Luxe Factor: Floors separated by six inches of concrete and double-paned glass windows keep the stadium noise outside. Two on-site restaurants owned by Houston Astros owner Jim Crane. Potente aims to be the best Italian restaurant in Houston and Osso & Kristalla is a more casual cafe and everyday building hangout spot.Walkability: No need to pay for stadium parking — Minute Maid Park and BBVA Compass Stadium are close by, and Toyota Center is a reasonable stroll away.Why We’d Live Here: Houston is getting its own version of the Wrigley Field rooftops. While 500 Crawford only stands seven stories tall, its rooftop deck looks into the Houston Astros’ home field. When Minute Maid’s roof is open, you’ll have one of the most distinctive views in all of Houston.Dollar: For lease; $1,300 to $2,800 monthly.Move-In Date: Now.Contact: On-site rental office, 713.222.0500, 500crawford.com.

500 Crawford gives residents one of the best views of Minute Maid Park in the city.

Project: The StarAddress: 1111 Rusk Street.Developer: Dallas-based Provident Realty Advisors.Floors & Units: 16 floors, 286 units.Status: Open.Square Footage: Average unit is 1,042 square feet.Starchitect/Designer: Memphis-based HBG Design.Amenities: 26,000 square feet of ground level retail, direct access to light rail, fitness center, some ceilings over 11 feet, valet parking, resort-style pool, two-level club room, rooftop deck plus ClubCorp membership.Luxe Factor: You’ll be living in the Old Texaco Building with its ornate architectural detailing, gargoyles and clock — one of the most storied buildings in Houston, built in 1915 and vacant since 1989. Original architect was NY’s Warren & Wetmore, which was involved with designing Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal.Walkability: In the heart of downtown Houston; stroll to restaurants, bars, shops, Lucky Strike and Minute Maid Park.Why We’d Live Here: The historian in you will be wowed by the Old Texaco Building grand limestone arcades and detail. Your shallower friends will be wowed by the plush surrounding and views.Dollar: For lease; $1,800 to $4,400 monthly (construction specials available)Move-In Date: Now.

Luxe Factor: This is the tower that ushered in the new wave of high-rise living in Houston. When it opened in 2009, One Park Place was the first high-rise built downtown in 40 years. It raised the bar on sky-high perks and it hasn’t fallen behind in that race yet.
Walkability: You’re right across the street from Discovery Green. The downtown park is essentially your backyard. Toyota Center and Minute Maid Park are short strolls away.
Why We’d Live Here: It’s a cool building and arguably the best downtown perch in the entire city.
Dollar: For lease; $2,400 to $14,500 monthly.
Move In-Date: Now.